My Summer at Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries
This summer, Alyssa Roll has been working as an intern onsite at our Foster Care Neighborhood in Harrisburg, Missouri. The 21-year-old will be a senior this fall at Columbia College where she plays on the softball team and majors in Psychology.
Originally from Peoria, Illinois, Alyssa came to the area when she received a scholarship for softball. She has been pitching since she was 10 years old. Alyssa said Columbia College is what led her to Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries.
“I first heard about Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries in a meeting discussing internships and it immediately caught my interest,” she said. “I had never heard of anything like it!”
Alyssa and the other interns work to provide fun, engaging activities for our children to make the most of their summer. They have gone on day trips to St. Louis, had dance parties at the office, spent endless hours swimming at the lake, and so much more. Alyssa said they also often “fill in the gaps” for our foster parents by helping with the children in the homes and also providing transportation.
“My favorite part about working at Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries is getting to build relationships with both the kids and the parents. The kids at Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries are amazing; to know them is to love them. When you hear some of their stories it just shows you their resilience and strength. I have always loved working with kids, but what really surprised me was how much I have loved getting to know the foster parents out here. This summer I have met some of the most selfless and generous individuals. These parents are a different breed. They open up their homes to as many children as the state will legally let them and then handle it with more patience and grace than I knew any one person could possess. It has been incredible getting to watch all of them parent these kids.”
Alyssa’s love for the foster parents at Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries is definitely reciprocated. Several foster parents described her as wonderful, quick to help, and always smiling.
“Alyssa has been a joy to have around!” Foster Parent Dru Tennant said. “The children are immediately excited when they see her, and she’s always so patient with them. It’s a joy to see that she’s able to connect with all of our children. From painting nails to getting down and dirty in the lake, she has been a great role model for everyone to follow.”
Alyssa said she has learned a great deal about foster care this summer, and her work at Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries has inspired her to continue working in this field.
“I’ve learned how resilient kids can be and how important it is for them to form relationships with people who are safe and care about them,” she said. “One of the main things I have taken away from my internship is that I know I want to continue working in the world of foster care, whether that is through case work, foster care advocacy or becoming a foster parent one day.”
~~Alyssa Roll
